Dumping-car.



PATBNITEDLFBB. 3, 190s.

E. s. HART.'

DUMPING GAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.l

H0 MODEL.

PTENTED FEB. 3, 1903.

l B. s. HART.

DUMPING GAR;

AYPLIOATION FILED AUG. 15, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET z.

N0 MODEL.

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No; 719,793. PATENTED FEB. a, 1903.

\ E. s. HART.

DUMPING GAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3f.

m: Nonms Paws ce. Nom-uwer. msnmsrow nv c.

PATENTED FEB. 3, 1903. E. S. HART.` DUMPING CAR.

'APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 15, 1902.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

im MODEL.

. 190.7193913. Y Y PATENTED-PBB. s, 1993.

DUMPING CAR;

APPLICATION uIULED AUG. l5, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI S. HART, OF CHICGQFILLINOIS.

DUMPlNG-CAR.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,793, dated February 3, 1903.

Application iiled August 15,1902. Serial No. 119,742. (No model.)

Improvements in Dumping Cars, of which the i following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of dumping-cars known as convertible dumpingcars-that is, a car provided with a plurality of elements capable of being arranged in one postion to form a hopper-bottom dumping-car and in another position to form a iiatbottom box or similar car, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient car having several movable parts which may be arranged so as to form a hopper-bottom dumping-car or a flat-bottom box-car, as desired.

Further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the drawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists principally in a convertible dumping-car in Whichthere are combined a supporting-frame portion provided with fixed Vertical side and end boards, a hopper-bottom formed of inclined side portions arranged longitudinally of the car, such side portions beingmade in two parts-an upper part pivoted to the frame portion and arranged to form a portionv of the inclined hopper-bottom when laid in one position and a portion of the flat bottom of the car when laid in another position and supplemental vertical end portions arranged inside of the fixed end portions of the car in one position to form the vertical ends of the hopper portion and in another position to form or complete the flat bottom of the car.

The invention consists, further, in a convertible dumping-car in which there are combined a frame portionprovided-with iixed side and end boards and roof portion forming an ordinary box-car, a V-shaped hopper ,portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and formed of inclined bottom portions made in two sections, a loweriixed or immovable section and an upper foldable section arranged to be folded upwardly and outwardly to form an. inclined portion of the hopper in one position and to be folded inwardly and downwardly to form a portion of the fiat floor ot' a box-car, and supplementary movable end portions constructed so as to be arranged in a vertical manner in one position and complete the end walls of the hopper and in another position to be folded outwardly and downwardly so as to com plete the fiat door of the box-car. The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of one endof a car, taken at a point at or near the longitudinal centerthereof and showing the parts as they appear when forming a hopper-bottom dumping box-car; Fig. 2, asimilar view showingthe parts as they appear when forming an ordinary flat-bottom box-car; Fig. 3, a crosssectional view taken through the car and showing the parts as they appear when they form a hopper-bottom dumping-car; Fig. i, a similar View showing the parts in position to form a flat-bottom box-car, and Fig. 5 a plan sectional view taken online 5 ofFig. 2 lookingin the direction of the arrow and showing one part of the car with the parts closed to form a flat-bottom box-car and the other side with the parts open to form ahopper-bottom dumping-car.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that convertible cars are iilling the long-felt Want in that they provide elastic rolling-stockthat is, a minimum number of cars may be used to accomplish a maximum purpose. Stated in other words, a railroad company having cars constructed in such manner ma \7 use such cars as one type of car at one season of the year and as another type at another season of the year or to carry one class of freight in one direction and another class in the other direction, Whereas it they did not have convertible cars it would require two or three times the nu mberof cars, thus involving an enormous initial expense in the purchase thereof and requiring large freight-yards and oar-sheds for the storing and housing of the cars not in use. The prin IOO cipal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a convertible car which may be used as an ordinary box-car at such seasons of the year as may seem desirable or necessary so to do or to carry such freight as can be carried by box-cars and provided with convertible elements by which it may be converted into a hopper-bottom dumping-car.

In illustrating and describing these im provements I have only illustrated and described that which I consider to be new, taken in connection with so much as is old as will properly disclose the invention to others and enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, leaving out of consideration other and well-known elements which ifillustrated and described herein would only tend to confusion, proliXity, and ambiguity.

In constructing a car in accordance with these improvements I provide a car body portion which has the usual underframing, consisting of side sills a, intermediate sills b, cross-beams c, which support the vertical side walls CZ, end walls e, and roof f, all in the usual manner.

To provide for a convertible car I make a V-shaped hopper portion arranged longitudinally of the car, the lower sections of which meet at an apex at or near the longitudinal center of the car. These lower sections of the hopper are secured to the underframing of the car in such a manner as to be fixed or immovable. One section is provided with a dumping or discharging door h, through which the material may be dumped, so as to form a pile between the tracks or through trestles, as may seem desirable or necessary. The upper sections 'L' of the hopper-bottom are made movable or pivoted to the underframe of the car in such manner that they may be folded `upwardly and outwardly into one position to form a continuation of the inclined hopper-bottom (see Fig. 3) or may be folded inwardly or downwardly into a second position, so that their free ends rest on a center supporting beam or silly' and form a portion of the flat flooring of the box-car.

To complete the hopper portion, supplementary end portions k are provided, so as to contact the ends of the hopper-sections and cleats Z and in a vertical plane. In connection with the side walls of the car and inclined hopper-bottom these end walls complete a hopperbottom dumping box-car. These supplementary end portions are held in position by means of a plurality of struts m, which are pivoted to the frame of the car, as at ln, and arranged to abut against the supplementary end walls and be held in position by means of the stirrups p. To complete the flat lioor of a box-car, these struts m are folded back against the end of the car, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and held in such position by means of a second set of stirrups q, thus permitting the end-boards to be folded downwardly and laid in liat position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to complete the flat floor of the box-car.

A rock-shaft r is provided having chain mechanisms s, which are connected with the ends of the discharging hopper-door, so as to hold such door locked in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, or permit it'to be opened whenever desirable or necessary.

I claiml. In a car of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame portion provided with fixed vertical side and end boards, a hopper-bottom formed of inclined side portions arranged longitudinally of the car, such side portions being made of lower and upper partsthe upper part being pivoted to the frame portion and arranged to form a portion of the inclined hopper-bottom when laid in one position and a portion of the fiat bottom of the car when laid in another position, and supplemental movable end portions arranged inside of the iiXed ends of the car in one position to form the ends of the hopper portion and in another position to form or complete the flat bottom of the car, substantially as described.

2. In a car of the class described, the combination of a frame portion provided with iixed side and end boards and roof portion forming an ordinary box-car, a V-shaped hopper portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and formed of inclined bottom portions made in two sections-a lower fixed or immovable section and an upper foldable section arranged to be folded upwardly and outwardly to form the inclined portion of the hopper in one position and to be folded inwardly and downwardly to form a portion of the flat floor of a box-car, and supplementary movable end portions constructed so as to be arranged in a vertical manner in one position and complete the end walls of the hopper and in another position to be folded outwardly and downwardly so as to complete the flat licor of the boX-car,substantial1y as described.

3. In a car of the class described, the combination of a frame portion provided with xed side and end doors and roof portion forming an ordinary box-car, a V-shaped hopper portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and formed of inclined bottom portions made in two sections-a lower immovable section and an upper foldable section arranged to be folded upwardly and out wardly to form an inclined portion of the hopper in one position and to be folded inwardly and downwardly to form a portion of the flat iioor of a box-car, supplementary movable end portions constructed so as to be arranged in a vertical manner in one position and complete the end walls of the hopper and in another position to be folded outwardly and downwardly so as to complete the flat floor of the box-car, a swinging door in one side of the IOO IIO

hopper portion at or near the bottom thereof l completion of the fiat floor of the car,'sub through which the material may be disstantially as described. charged, means for opening and closing such' door, and pivoted strut mechanism arranged 5 to brace and hold the supplementary or hop- Witnesses:

ELI S. HART.

per end Walls in Vertical manner and to be swung up and out of position to permit the J. C. ROUZER,` HARRY I. CROMER. 

